HANCOCK COUNTY — A real estate developer set for trial on charges of wetlands and Clean Water Act violations in Hancock County has notified court officials he plans to plead guilty to a reduced charge.

Federal court records show William R. “Rusty” Miller, of Fairhope, Ala., plans to accept a plea agreement on a charge of filling wetlands without permission.

The Sun Herald report his initial court appearance and plea hearing are set for Dec. 17. An 11-count indictment filed in November 2012 will be dismissed if the court accepts Miller’s plea to one count from a bill of information.

The charge alleges Miller knowingly and illegally ordered the ditching, draining and filling of wetlands in 2007 on land owned by three businesses collectively known as Hancock County Land.